By: Julius Konton
In a significant move to strengthen press freedom and support private media institutions, the Government of Liberia has commenced payments to media entities whose service claims have been verified by the General Auditing Commission (GAC).
The Ministry of Finance and Development Planning has announced that a portion of outstanding debts has already been settled, with a commitment to continue payments until all validated claims are paid in full.
“The independent media is not just a watchdog of society, it is also a vital player in the private sector,” Foreign Minister Augustine Kpehe Ngafuan.
“For the media to thrive and continue to enable private investment, they must first be empowered to survive.”
A New Standard for Media Engagement
Speaking at the 13th National Convention of the Association of Liberian Journalists in the Americas Minister Ngafuan emphasized that delayed payments to media outlets for services rendered undermine both operational sustainability and editorial independence.
“When government delays payments, it effectively suffocates the media, making it difficult to pay workers or stay objective,” he noted.
He said to remedy such, the Communications Unit within the Ministry of Finance has been tasked to liaise directly with media outlets and report all outstanding balances to the Minister’s Office.
The goal is prompt settlement of legitimate debts and the elimination of bureaucratic hurdles or rent-seeking delays in the payment chain.
The Ministry also pledged broader systemic improvements to ensure all service providers to the government especially small businesses—receive payments on time.
Press Union and ALJA Urged to Adapt to Digital Realities
As Liberia’s information ecosystem evolves, the Minister called on the Press Union of Liberia (PUL) and the Association of Liberian Journalists in the Americas (ALJA) to expand their engagement with emerging voices in the digital public sphere, including social media influencers and citizen journalists.
“The media landscape is fast evolving. Today, non-traditional actors command large audiences and often operate outside ethical boundaries,” the Ministry stated.
Instead of ignoring these voices, Minister Ngafuan encouraged traditional media bodies to develop inclusive strategies to engage with and train these influencers, integrating them into the broader Fourth Estate while highlighting capacity-building initiatives as a key area for collaboration.
“Whether certified or not, many are now part of the information space. Spreading the tenets of responsible journalism benefits everyone”, he added.
Call for Balance: “Independent” Shouldn’t Mean “Anti-Government”
In a passionate appeal for ethical journalism, the finance Ministry boss cautioned against a growing trend where some media outlets, while branding themselves as “independent and credible,” only highlight government failures and ignore progress.
“Your patriotic duty is to report the bad when you see it, but equally, to report the good when it happens. Independence is not synonymous with being anti-government”, he re-emphasized.
Minister Ngafuan drew a sharp contrast between entities that transparently declare partisan leanings and those that claim neutrality while covertly promoting biased narratives.
“We must all be accountable to the truth, to our audiences, and above all, to our country.”
Citing the words of journalist Walter Williams, the statement reminded the media of their solemn responsibility as “trustees for the public.”
A balanced, honest media landscape, it concluded, is vital not only for democracy but also for Liberia’s economic growth and global credibility”, he reminded Liberian journalists.
Towards a Stronger Government-Media Partnership
He then pledge to deepen cooperation with the media sector in ways that serve the broader national interest.
“Being good trustees, whether in government or the media, is good for investment, sustainable development, and the overall prosperity of Liberia,” adding that to make our country better, we all must do better.”
